tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45688220300204361742024-03-04T23:12:11.422-05:00Sharing Hope...I'm just a gal who loves our amazing God, loves her family & struggles with infertility all while trying to figure out step-motherhood and foster mama-hood. I married the love of my life and our struggles have brought us closer to each other and strengthened our faith. I want to share my thoughts, stories, ideas & questions to hopefully encourage other ladies in similar situations.MKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04241452824452082997noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568822030020436174.post-60442393713636731952016-10-06T19:41:00.000-04:002016-10-06T19:49:27.851-04:00Mirror<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "ebrima";">On my way to work one
morning last week I was fuming about some family things and these words from a
song I wasn’t really paying attention to came across loud and clear:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "freestyle script"; font-size: 22.0pt;">Look in the mirror, but you
find someone you never thought you'd be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "ebrima"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I was
stunned. If I would’ve been walking, I would’ve
stopped in my tracks. Rather I was
driving, so I did pull my foot off the gas pedal for a second as those words
sunk in… <i>Look in the mirror, but you find
someone you never thought you'd be…</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "ebrima"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And I thought
to myself, “<i>when I was a young girl, this
is not the person I envisioned myself being!</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "ebrima"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sure, life’s
circumstances are WAY different than I had planned, but regardless of what this
life has thrown my way I realized that my younger self would be totally disappointed
in how I was behaving. My internal
frustrations weren’t turned into outward acts of violence, but my thoughts—which
God clearly knows—were unkind. Growing
up I always thought of myself as a kind person.
To say the least, I was disappointed in myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "ebrima"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "ebrima"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I later
looked up that song (Matthew West - Mended) and listened to the whole thing. I was left shaking my head in wonder of our
awesome God. I was not listening to the
music coming from my car’s speakers that morning, but He opened my ears to hear
the one part of that song that I needed to hear. God does speak to us. He will sometimes use what is right in front
of our eyes (or ears) to send us a message.
Those words were exactly what I needed to hear to get me out of my funk.
No, life is not perfect. My husband is not perfect; I’m not perfect;
we don’t have a perfect marriage; I don’t have perfect stepkids. But I can rely on a PERFECT GOD to carry me
through life’s unexpected circumstances and I can choose joy within them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "onyx"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Consider it pure joy, my
brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know
that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. {James 1:2-4 NIV}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "ebrima"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I think it
would do us all good to look at ourselves in a virtual mirror and think about
what our younger self would think about how we were responding to our daily
circumstances. My reflection wasn’t so
pretty, but now that I’ve seen that image I’m working on improving it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "ebrima"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Love &
Hugs,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "ebrima"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">MK</span></div>
MKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04241452824452082997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568822030020436174.post-88283997416251464052014-08-21T12:41:00.000-04:002014-08-21T16:18:28.213-04:00A Beautiful ReminderYesterday we got some disappointing financial news that is out of our control. We were just beginning to think about looking into adoption. This poorly-timed news seemed to put a damper on this prospect in my worrying mind. Then this morning I started questioning God as to why we couldn't be blessed with a child. I stopped myself and told God that I was giving it to Him. I honestly didn't know how that was going to work, but I was trying to set it at His feet like I said I was going to do daily if needed. <br>
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After two hours of running around at work, I finally get to my desk to find an email from my hubby. This is how I got the news yesterday so I was a little nervous. But as I read the sweet words, my eyes filled with tears. This sweet man who I get to claim as MY husband was lavishing me with words of love and gratitude for me and for our marriage. My heart just about burst with joy!<br>
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I know that God spoke through J this morning to remind me that even though I don't have a baby to hold, that I have SO VERY MUCH to be ever-grateful for! It starts with my hubby and our awesome marriage, but it goes beyond that. I have a close-knit family and a few super-supportive friends. I have in-laws who I refuse to call "in-laws" because of the bad stigma that often goes with that title. I am so blessed to have all of these wonderful people in my life. I don't know where I would be without all of them. I thank my God for this beautiful reminder! <br>
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No matter what you are waiting on or feel you are missing out on, don't forget to look around to see all the wonders that God has already given you. Many of our blessings we take for granted without a second thought. Take time to truly dwell on what the Lord has gifted to you.<br>
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Love & Hugs,</div>
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MK</div>
MKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04241452824452082997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568822030020436174.post-49138640921225013642014-08-14T17:32:00.000-04:002014-08-19T22:52:38.307-04:00Like a Light Switch...<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">
</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;">I was talking to a friend the other day who is also
struggling with how to just “get over” the fact that she will never be a
mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shared that I wouldn’t be as
okay with this prospect as I am if it wasn’t for my faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is undoubtedly true!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Since that conversation though, I’m being cruelly reminded
of all the things I had looked forward to sharing with the daughter I’ve always
dreamed of having... Teaching her how to cook and bake--especially how to make
her daddy’s favorite desserts showing her the joy of doing special
things for the ones you love... Going to yard sales finding awesome finds... Braiding
her hair or just brushing out tangles... Reading stories to her at bedtime... the list goes on and on...</span></div>
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</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;">Then I get so frustrated with
myself for not getting over not having any children of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do I still have emotional days?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can’t I just move on and get over
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can’t I just be okay with this???<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">
</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;">Last week while sitting in Sunday School I listened to our
teacher, Chuck, talk about Job 38 and he made this point:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></i><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It is important to note that God never told
Job the reason for his pain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God never
did give Job any explanation about the circumstances of his trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His question to Job is simply this—Are you as
eternal, great, powerful, wise and perfect as God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
you need to trust Me!!</span></i></blockquote>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;">
Job had the longest recorded conversation (I guess you
can call that a conversation) with God in the Bible and yet he didn’t receive
an answer from God as to why he had to suffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes God doesn’t give us an answer to our Whys and Why Nots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;">
<o:p> </o:p></span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">“For my thoughts
are not your thoughts,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">neither are your
ways my ways,”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">declares the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">As the heavens are
higher than the earth,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">so are my ways
higher than your ways</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">and my thoughts
than your thoughts.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">Isaiah 55:8-9
(NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;">Deciding to accept the likely possibility
that I will not be a mother and trust God with HIS plan for my life does NOT
mean that I can turn the desire to have children off like a light switch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not mean that I will not ache to know
what it’s like to carry a child inside me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It doesn’t mean that I will never have another emotional breakdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am still a woman, and an emotional one at
that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;">My feelings will still be there, but I choose to not let
these emotions define me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #660000;">Each morning I need to hand it back over to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I need to remember that this kind of an emotional day is sure to come
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will hand my doubts back
to God and chose to not hold on to them. That is the only way I will be able to move
closer to truly trusting God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Love & Hugs, <br> MK</span></div>
MKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04241452824452082997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568822030020436174.post-2718526069555129182014-05-02T16:50:00.003-04:002014-05-02T16:54:10.794-04:00Mother’s Day for the 1st Time - Holley Gerth<span style="font-size: large;">So I'm supposed to be leaving work to get to my stepson's baseball game and instead I'm hiding out in my office with the door shut frantically dabbing at my eyes. I just happened to read this post from Holley Gerth. First of all I love her writing, I love her heart for God, I love her perspective and I love the gentle nudges and the kicks in the butt her words give me. One moment I was exhaling and the next breath turned into hyperventilating sobs. The words <em>“You can be my adopted mom.”</em> are what transformed my normal breathing into such a mess. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I really don't have much to say about this. Just take a minute to read it. Her words are all you need to hear. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a href="http://holleygerth.com/im-celebrating-mothers-day-first-time-year/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://holleygerth.com/im-celebrating-mothers-day-first-time-year/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Family" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4660" src="http://holleygerth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Family-e1399056204100.jpg" height="365" width="500" /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Love & Hugs (...and a few lingering tears),</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">MK</span>MKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04241452824452082997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568822030020436174.post-4471480836331128492014-04-28T12:12:00.000-04:002014-04-28T12:14:39.819-04:00Highs & Lows with my Hubby<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been wanting to build a small greenhouse out of old windows and old glass doors or whatever glass items we could repurpose. My hubby found a huge piece of old glass at his job last week. I've been patiently waiting to find out if his boss cared if he took it home for us to build a greenhouse with. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: </span><a href="http://www.bhg.com/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.bhg.com</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I got this message today from my sweet hubby:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ2M6fAqjrqhGBel8i7B4ooYfR3FcZcEZpLCs6BPFgiKhoSJos4vp5SXbH9raMM4KMQbysai0kvAg1I_zgbnd41LQC63O9P2kOgbdYPG8ZvegYitjHHZ_xtKE6NUJReF8rQJQcaMNK4o/s1600/IMG_3054.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ2M6fAqjrqhGBel8i7B4ooYfR3FcZcEZpLCs6BPFgiKhoSJos4vp5SXbH9raMM4KMQbysai0kvAg1I_zgbnd41LQC63O9P2kOgbdYPG8ZvegYitjHHZ_xtKE6NUJReF8rQJQcaMNK4o/s1600/IMG_3054.PNG" height="320" width="268" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just receiving that first message from him made my heart swell and my eyes tear up. He is the sweetest man I know and I am truly blessed to have him as my husband. But sometimes I get caught up in life's frustration and forget that. As I was sitting there reading his last message, I thought to myself "why can't we always be like this?". Just yesterday I was oober-irritated over something minuscule that he did. I can't even remember what it was! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Almost as soon as I posed that question a small voice from somewhere within me reminded me that it's okay that we have our lows, because we don't stay there. We always come back to a high. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I must accept that we are human. Put two humans together and things certainly aren't going to be perfect! We have many perfect moments because we love each other in spite of our short-comings. While I know that the lows are there and always will be, I know that we always have our highs too and that is what I choose to focus on! </span>MKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04241452824452082997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568822030020436174.post-83237687365630752052014-02-28T14:31:00.001-05:002014-02-28T14:41:00.097-05:00Try Again<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">After our failed
attempt at IVF I had begun to doubt that God had ever really given me a peace
about going through with the procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was very confused and disappointed when we did not end up pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the past 3 months, my heart was
hardening a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still loved our awesome
God, but I was building a wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
that wall got cemented into place, God used three different things to speak to
me within three days’ time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A close friend had a message that she truly felt was from God to me and
she shared that with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know she was
super nervous to tell me this, but she listened to the tug on her heart and she
shared two words with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Try Again.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
immediately refused to believe that it meant to try IVF again, but I
thought that maybe it meant try trusting God again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hardened my heart to trusting God,
since we were so let down in November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This seemed like a plausible idea and I decided to pray about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A day later a Proverbs 31 devotional caught my eye
titled “Things Have Got to Be Different This Year”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devotional started out with these verses:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0.8in 11.25pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">"When
he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let
down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all
night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the
nets.' When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that
their nets began to break." Luke 5:4-6 (NIV)</span><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">
This reminded me of a magnet I have on my refrigerator from a study I did a
year ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I thought maybe God really
was telling me to trust him again...</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-right: 0.8in; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" style="margin-left: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: ScriptS_IV25;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">And
then the very next day, I get an email from my sister starting out like this:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0.8in 11.25pt 0.5in;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Was getting into the fridge
last night and saw the one magnet that Jeanette had made a while back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says something like </span><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But because you say so Lord, I will let down the
nets again."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>...<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She
went on to say that when she noticed that magnet, which she hadn’</span><span style="font-family: ScriptS_IV25;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">t noticed in months, that she heard a voice saying:</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You need to tell MK this </span><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> she needs to trust Me again.</span><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span></em><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Light","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ScriptS_IV25; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I
then shared with her the previous days’ events and we were both
smiling from deep within our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 4.5pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I’m thankful that my faith has been stretched so that it can
grow even deeper and I’m thankful for the closeness
this has brought to our marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From a gal who felt unloved by God just three
months ago, today I am ready to start trusting Him again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel important to God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sent me three messages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
sent messages to ME.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t it amazing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in awe of how personal our God is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may take some time for the hurt to clear a
little before you can see his love for you, but it’s always there and it never wavers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From Isaiah 61:3, it mentions restoring “a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” and that is where my heart is now...praising the grace-giving
& loving God that we serve!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I have also
realized how important the second word is in that message: Again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One evening my hubby and I were walking our dog
and in the middle of the road with fields on either side of us and stars
sparkling above us, I broke down and cried out in frustration and overwhelming
grief asking how was I to know if that peace came from God or if I somehow
manufactured it on my own?!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so
honored and relieved that God answered my question. He heard my broken sobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God is asking me to trust <u>again</u>, then that
means I would have had to trust him a <u>first time</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such peace those two words from a caring
friend have given me...they have spoken volumes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Our hearts are open to what the future holds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have NO clue what that may be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it feels so good to trust Him once again
and know in my heart--not just my head--that God truly cares and loves us.<o:p></o:p></span></span>MKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04241452824452082997noreply@blogger.com1